The football hooligan – Who do you think you are?

Football turns normal fans into monsters!

You see them all the time in football – the football hooligan with their crazy behaviour. So I am asking the question, “Who do you think you are? Some kind of person where the rules of normal don’t apply to you?”

Is it just my imagination or does there appear to be an increase in violence and football hooliganism at football grounds and matches these days.

Some of them may be more subtle than others but it all amounts to the same thing, unacceptable behaviour from the fans.

What makes a fan turn into some kind of monster when football is involved?

It seems that anything goes and they can mouth off obscenities, act totally out of character from their normal lives, use social media to carry on this mindless behaviour.

Away from football they are mostly law abiding decent human beings. Yes normal and enjoyable to be around. Then Football comes around and these same folk for some reason seem to loose their heads.

the football hooligan

The beautiful game has a dark side!

Many years ago this was a massive problem in soccer then the respect and kick it out programs were brought into football, from the people running the game, to help sort the problem out.

For a while it seemed to have worked and these programs cleared some of the issues up but soon those campaigns faded away and now bit by bit things are changing again.

Just listen to any football chat and you will hear them talking about these incidents and issues.

What focused the football family’s minds on this problem once more was the crazy incident last weekend at villa park on Sunday 10th of March 2019 (last weekend) a highly charged local derby with two teams from the same city playing each other.

The game Birmingham versus Aston Villa in the English League Championship.

What happened was a fan of Birmingham City ran onto the pitch and smacked a player Jack Grealish from the Aston Villa team during the game in the head. This was a disgrace and shocking act for all to see. The fan has since received a punishment for this act, a 10 year ban from football, and a fine. Is this punishment enough? I will leave that up to the people in higher places to decide that.

What else shocked me about this was some of the home fans cheering this fan as he were removed from the playing surface. What why would you want to cheer him for that? You clubs name will be tarnished and you are basically condoning this crazy action.

Then in the same incident you see one of the local martials, who is supposed to be protecting the player, aim a kick towards the player. I will leave this up to the club to decide what punishment this martial will receive.

Watch this disgraceful incident below

This was one of three separate incidents of fans running onto the pitch on the same day in different games.

What makes a supposed lover of the game want to run on and do something like that?

What if they had an object in their hands that could cause a player serious injury? It needs stopping now but what will Football do about it? Your guess is as good as mine. Probably nothing.

We have also seen recent unacceptable behaviours of racist chanting from fans in the stands. This is not a new thing, but it is never a good time to chant those sorts of things. This is being punished as a criminal offence now so lets hope that deters a few more from doing it.

Swearing and bad language has always been heard but surely if you are in the family stand with your children you should not be subjected to this sort of thing? What are we teaching the fans of tomorrow that this is how it is done?

Who do you think you are?

Those previous campaigns the kick it out and respect showed us it can be removed, maybe not totally but at least some of it. They worked because all the people at the top of the game bought into all the messages they were sending out and continually banged the drum about it. This was seen by the millions playing and watching the game and slowly these messages got into the subconscious minds of the masses and changes started to happen.

This is what needs to happen again from the top down. Show us fans and the millions watching that this is unacceptable. Either they don’t think there is a problem or they just can’t be bothered to sort it out. I for one think things need to be looked at now. Time to act, football lets get it out the game.

soccer fans riot

Four things football could try to sort it out

1: Respect the referee

Sounds simple to act upon but it is never done. Players continually surround the referee intimidating them. It should be left up to the team caption to question and talk to the referee. This would show people watching and playing the game how to do it. If it starts at the top level it will filter down to all levels. They manage to do it in rugby and those players are a lot bigger than the referees. I do not want to hear it’s a different game it would work in football. Rubbish if the governing bodies really supported the referees and helped them when they have to make really tough decisions, then things would change over a period of time.

Everyone involved in football should try just letting the referee ref the games, even if they make bad decisions in the game. They are only human and will make mistakes we all do. Video assistant referee (var) technology is coming more and more into the game and in time this will help get most of the decisions right.

2: Stop the cheating in games

The constant diving, pushing and pulling by players during a game – it’s cheating. Players trying to con the referees to get other players carded or sent off during a game- it is not on. It gets on us fans nerves. If these things get cut out the game by players then fans wouldn’t get so angry at some of the things they see during a game. This might stop fans turning into football hooligans. Again it needs to be from the top elite players downwards. Show us the way and the rest of football right down to the grassroots will follow. Players will copy what they see on television.

3: Enjoy the banter but don’t hate

Football fans for some reason seem to hate anyone that doesn’t support their team. What you as footballs fans are failing to see is this – we are all football fans! Yes we all love the game and think like you do the only difference between us is we support a different team to you. We have a lot in common, more than with other people who have no interest in football. You may not like the team I support that’s fine but let the aggression go. We can all laugh and have a joke together and talk about all things football. Now how cool would that be.

4: Cut out the excessive alcohol ?

Everyone of us fans loves to have a drink before, at half time, and after the game but could this be one of the main problems. Should football be looking at ways of helping people not to go over the top with the excessive alcohol intake on match days. How they would do this I have no idea but clearly these normal law abiding citizens don’t mix well with the alcohol. I like a drink like the next person but know when I have had to much. I am going to watch a sporting event not a lose my mind from too much booze event 🙂

It is a wider society problem – I for one am not buying this. I go to the cinema, theatre, rugby, cricket and I never feel threatened or intimidated. Does it happen yes of course it does. No one, not even me is that naïve to think it doesn’t happen but it is just too easy to blame society for this hatred of other fans. So lets not blame society for this group of people that can’t control themselves, lets try and get rid of these people from the game we love.

It is a small minority of fans – this might be true but they are making a hell of a lot of noise because it’s all we talk about. Is there a way to rid them from our game? It seems crazy that if it is just a few then why can’t the majority stand up to them?

Your actions matter – believe it or not!

You as a fan need to take responsibility for your actions. Go and have a laugh with your friends, feel part of your club, join in with the singing and chanting. Feel free to give and receive banter in a friendly manner but let’s all try to somehow get rid of the nastiness that appears to be grown throughout the game today.

The game can only benefit from each one of us fans trying to do their bit to make it a more pleasant experience for everyone who loves the game.

Do I think things will change? In a simple answer NO it’s too far gone and unless football people at the highest level work out a way to get us fans all on board then I only see thing escalating until where, or who knows what will happen? Let’s just hope it’s not a major incident once again.

20 Comments

Linus Udochukwu Marvellous
· 18/03/2019 at 4:06 pm

I love football with all my heart and it is one thing that has been in my family for so long. My dad taught me how to play football and I did same thing for my son. It is something that has always brought me in contact with various people and I have never ever fought because of this wonderful sport so I can proudly say that I am no football holigan

tawhid
· 18/03/2019 at 3:46 pm

Hello Mathew,

I have read your article on The football hooligan – Who do you think you are? you have selected a very important fact. We have recently seen unacceptable behaviours of racist chanting from fans in the stands. This is not a good thing, this should never happen. This is being punished as a criminal offence now so lets hope that deters a few more from doing it. thank you so much for your article.

Matthew Hofman
· 18/03/2019 at 7:45 pm

Hi tawhid

I totally agree with you racist chanting from these so called fans in unacceptable. it is another form of the football hooligan that needs removing from the game of football.

Why they decide to sing and chant these words I will never know? They don’t do it in their normal working day, so why do they change when football is involved? who knows what is going on in their heads?

Fortune
· 18/03/2019 at 3:37 pm

This is one of the best article that I have read on the round leather game. I watched the video in the article, it is so disheartening seeing a fan attack a player like that. That hit on the neck could be dangerous if the fan had hit him with an object. That was shameful to the round leather game. Players and referees needs protection from dangerous and hooligans that claims they love football. I just wish the football governing body can do more to ensure hooliganism in football is reduced to zero level. Thanks man for this post.

Divine13
· 18/03/2019 at 3:30 pm

Thanks for this article, this has been a major concern of mine for over a while now. Football hooliganism is a terrible thing. Normal people living a normal life and suddenly switch into an abnormal behaviour all because of football is something frustrating and should not be condoned. It is risky not only for footballers but also dangerous towards the fans and innocent fans too. I think something should be done and only another movement to make people calm again is what I can think of right now to solve this, and also what you’ve mentioned too will definitely save the day

Matthew Hofman
· 18/03/2019 at 7:57 pm

Hi Divine

Yes I agree with you my friend football hooliganism is a terrible thing and a major concern for the honest going and watching soccer fan. We don’t want to loose our love for the game due to this minority of so called fans who in my mind don’t really care about the game at all, they just want to upset everyone.

What the governing body of football will end up doing about these issues I have no idea?

Lets just hope it does get sorted out and we can all fall in love with the beautiful game once more.

Dapoach
· 18/03/2019 at 3:21 pm

Football is definitely my best sports. Whenever i see a good blog on it i spend a lot of time reading it. Your blog is very informative and i really enjoyed reading your post on football. I really believe also that football can have a dark side when one becomes a fanatic. Hooliganism in football is pathetic. I think each football club needs to find a long lasting solution on how to curb this menace in the footballing world. Thanks so much for this lovely post. Hope to read more subsequent posts from you

Jay
· 18/03/2019 at 3:19 pm

Football was not always like this. It is really strange that this sought of event is becoming a normal occurrence in the football world. Fans get beaten and even stabbed to the point of death just because their team won or lost. It is a crazy thing that is happening. Football was meant to bring countries together but that idealism no longer exists as it has turn into a fierce sport with players doing almost anything on the pitch to win the game which is why we see so many diving and fouls been committed. I just hope we ones again begin to enjoy the game not as a competition but as a way to just relax and enjoy our weekends or weekdays.

Olalekan Taliat
· 18/03/2019 at 3:15 pm

Alcohol, yes alcohol is a major driving force for these unruly fans. Sometimes ago we went to see a local game. My son was enthusiastic about it. It was his first game going experience, he was just nine. My regret and fear collide and a fight broke out from the back seat where a fan had sneaked in with alcohol. The rest was history as they would say.

Till date am still finding it difficult to make my boy go see games , even when I persuaded and told him its a one off thing.

Matthew Hofman
· 18/03/2019 at 5:12 pm

Hi Olaleken

That is such a shame about your boy, so sad he doesn’t want to games anymore. It was a day that was supposed to make him fall in love with the beautiful game and yet it has ended up like that for him. That is why I asked the question who do you think you are football hooligans?

I do hope he goes back because it’s not all like that incident and a lot of stadiums have family stands which are meant to be better for families to watch the game of soccer from.

Take care and keep trying with your boy to get him watching football again.

Lok Which
· 18/03/2019 at 3:14 pm

I’m aware of what happened in the game of Birmingham versus Aston Villa , the disgraceful action made by a fan. Actually I still wonder within myself when sometimes last month , my next door neighbor who happened to be one of the gentle man I have ever seen suddenly turn to a monster hitting another man with a big stick all because of argument against his club , the man bled to death and my neighbor was arrested , he is still in detention.

Hbee
· 18/03/2019 at 3:14 pm

I really liked this article – it points out what needs to be done to help reduce the aggressive behaviours found on football pitches or by fans. We all should respect one another just like we do when going to the cinema. Football should be something aggressive, it should bring about unity. Do you think these same rules of reducing aggressive behaviour should apply to other sports where we might also find these types of behaviours?

Dan
· 18/03/2019 at 3:09 pm

Hi Matthew,

From over here in the states it definitely seems like the matches are getting more violent. I always thought the fans seemed pretty violent to begin with LOL. I get it. Sports are big for people and they get quite passionate but it’s sad when it gets out of control like that. I think that the excessive alcohol you mentioned is probably the biggest issue. If they jack up the prices like they do here people will probably buy far less of it. Seems to work here pretty well. Thanks for the cool post.